The advantage of a sneak attack had pushed Nephalian to the brink of death in just three strikes.
A third-rank swordsman's control over Sword Qi, the explosive power they could unleash, and their level of physical strengthening were far superior to those of a second-rank swordsman.
This was not something that could be overcome by mere combat experience.
Although Caiman often failed to get the better of Manfred...
That was because Manfred possessed residual Forbidden Fire, and touching even a spark of it would lead to a miserable end.
Watching Caiman's Sword Qi slash toward her, Nephalian took a step back.
Her figure vanished into the mist once more.
Mist Forest Box Effect 2: Thick Mist.
"Damn it!"
Caiman charged forward, slashing wildly at the spot where Nephalian had disappeared!
As the Sword Qi dissipated, a few blood-stained fragments of clothing drifted through the air, but Nephalian was nowhere to be seen.
"How did she get over here!?" Caiman shouted.
"Vines! That elven priest is manipulating vines to grow paths across the lava!"
Indeed, Eomer's Fire-Warding Vines were growing across the lava, creating several paths of vines for them to step on.
These thin vines were nearly impossible for a normal person to balance on.
One slip meant falling into the lava, leaving nothing but ash.
But Nephalian, a master of the rapier, was naturally light on her feet.
Her internal Sword Qi was also light and sharp.
Blood continued to flow from Caiman's left eye.
Having nearly been killed by that single thrust, he was in a foul mood.
He had finally found a giant pillar, only to run into these elves!
Curse this damned Well of Eternal Imprisonment. Nothing good had happened since he set foot inside.
Cursing inwardly, Caiman ordered the fire-resistant boat to retreat into the thick smoke.
The elves wanted to pursue, but Eomer stopped them.
"The environment of this lava lake isn't suited for pursuit. My sensing is hindered by the smoke; they could easily ambush us."
"We weren't fully prepared for this chance encounter, either."
"Let's secure the map fragment on this pillar first."
"Yes, sir."
Eomer cast a holy art to heal Nephalian's injuries as their boat pulled up to the pillar.
Climbing the stone steps on the giant pillar, Eomer looked back at the fire-resistant boat.
To prevent Caiman from sneaking back and sinking it...
Eomer cast another holy art. Fire-Warding Vines sprouted from the lava, wrapping around the boat layer by layer and pulling it beneath the surface of the molten rock.
Better safe than sorry.
Eomer's true age was far greater than his youthful appearance suggested.
...
The Red Rose team.
As the first team to complete the mine quest and obtain a fire-resistant boat, Serafina's team was naturally making the most progress in the Lava Stratum.
Moreover, she had unexpectedly acquired the magical artifact Frozen Flame Ice, which significantly boosted her resistance to the lava environment.
By now, they had found three giant pillars and collected three map fragments.
She was determined to obtain the Lava Dragon Sword.
At the same time, she remained wary of other teams exploring the lake.
Especially Caiman's knight order and the elven team.
Though it was Serafina's first time seeing elves, they didn't look like people to be trifled with.
And they seemed to harbor deep hostility toward humans.
"Captain, someone is approaching ahead."
Leoward, the second-rank mage, sensed an approaching presence.
Isolde, the second-rank heavy warrior, had already raised his shield, deploying the Immovable Fortress barrier.
The smoke of the lava lake could block sensing; for Leoward to feel them, it meant they were within twenty meters.
Who was it?
Serafina narrowed her eyes, hands resting on the hilts of her swords, her wine-red eyebrows arching.
A blurry shadow gradually became clear in the thick mist.
On the swaying fire-resistant boat, there were only two people.
One human, and one... purple-skinned blacksmith?
This unexpected combination made even Serafina look confused.
Is this... a quest lead?
No, wait. Maybe that's not a human, but some special monster in human form?
It had no demi-human features at all. Strange, very strange.
In any other dungeon, Serafina would have drawn her sword and charged.
But this was the Well of Eternal Imprisonment.
When encountering unusual situations here, as long as the monsters didn't attack first, adventurers usually took a wait-and-see attitude.
Because neutral monsters existed in the Well of Eternal Imprisonment.
Fighting them rarely ended well.
And the rarer the neutral monster, the more likely it was to hide precious treasure leads.
Except for that unlucky guy Caiman.
The two boats drew closer until the occupants could see each other clearly.
"Red Rose?"
Brock looked at the team on the other boat and recognized them.
After all, Brock was an adventurer from the Gray City Adventurer Association; he naturally knew Serafina's Red Rose team.
"You recognize us? I guess you're not a monster, then."
Serafina felt a slight pang of disappointment.
But only one person?
And teamed up with a purple-skinned blacksmith?
Had he triggered some special quest? And how did a lone second-rank mage manage to explore this deep?
"What's your situation? Do you need help?"
Serafina hesitated for a moment before asking.
Brock didn't know how to answer.
But help...
Joining the Red Rose team temporarily to deal with the hidden boss, the Sub-dragon Wyvern, might be a good choice.
After all, all Brock wanted was the wyvern's dragon flame.
But would they accept him?
Brock remembered his experience being kicked out of the Ash Flower team.
"I..."
Brock tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come.
He realized then that he was psychologically scarred when it came to adventurer teams.
He was afraid of being looked at as a burden again, afraid of those eyes full of disgust...
"We want the Sub-dragon Wyvern's dragon flame," Purple Hammer said, stepping forward.
Serafina hadn't expected the purple-skinned blacksmith to be the one to speak first.
"The Sub-dragon Wyvern's dragon flame? That's perfect. We're on our way to hunt it down."
"Do you want to come along?"
Serafina didn't mind adding more members to her team.
Brock was stunned that she had asked so directly.
Serafina's Red Rose team was a famous group in Gray City.
Their captain, Serafina, was a rare female swordsman—powerful and beautiful.
And someone like her was inviting him to hunt a hidden boss.
"...Yes."
"I'll join."
Rate on N.U.
